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Showing posts with label holly black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holly black. Show all posts

Monday, March 11, 2013

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Finished: 
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Next On The List: 
The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part 1 by L.J. Smith
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Pre-Ordered:
None! :O

Purchased: 
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Zombies Vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

Gifted:
The Moon Dwellers by David Estes (Thanks, YA Sisterhood!!)

What are you reading?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Characters in Books


Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters In Books
(In no particular order)


1) Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy series)
Okay, really? Rose is my favorite character of all frackin time. She's badass, kickass, and a smartass. She's fiercely loyal, clever, and fights for what she thinks is right. She's got so many issues, and it's so great to watch her overcome her problems. 

2) Wesley "Link" Lincoln (Caster Chronicles)
Link is hilarious. Even in the most darkest times, Link could make me laugh. Then, in Beautiful Chaos, we see a more vulnerable side of him and I was swooning and awwwwwwwwing. 

3) Cassel Sharpe (Curse Workers series)
Cassel is incredibly, well, sharp. He's cunning and snarky. And most of all, I love that, despite his family history, he tries to hold himself to a higher standard. Cassel is so messed up and that's why it's hard not to love him!

4) Adam Wilde (If I Stay)
First of all, Adam is obviously sexy. Second of all, he's a musician--which is sexy. I loved how much he clearly cared about Mia and the extremes he went to in order to see her. He's adorable and, uh, did I mention SEXY!? 

5) Evan (Hushed)
The one thing I really admired about Evan was that he is infinitely patient with Arthur and he is willing to risk everything in order to help Archer. He is kind and understanding. 

6)Jace Wayland (Mortal Instruments series)
Okay, I can't help it. Jace is so wonderfully swoon-worthy. Everything that comes out of his mouth makes me melt. He is broken, sometimes a little rude, and extremely reckless. But he has a softer side when it comes to the people he loves and he is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for them. Honestly, I could go on and on about Jace, but I'll just end with: He's beautiful. 

7) Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games trilogy) 
Elaboration is really quite unnecessary, because we all know how kickass Katniss is. 

8) Dimitri Belikov (Vampire Academy series)
He's different than the average YA love interest, perhaps because he is a lot more man than boy. He is sweet, tender, wise, a god, focused, determined, and a lot more delicious adjectives. AND A NOMNOM ACCENT ;D

9) Sophie Mercer (Hex Hall trilogy)
I wasn't crazy about her in the first book, but in Demonglass she kicks up her badassery with more magic and kissing and snark! 

10) Magnus Bane (Mortal Instruments & Infernal Devices series)
Uh, he's MAGNUS FRACKIN BANE. Nuff said. 





No joke, that's just the tip of the iceberg of the characters I adore. Who are your favorite book characters!? 

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Practically Peeing - The Ending Edition

I know, what a weird post title! But there's a lot of times when I'm excited for a book I say I'm peeing my pants for it. So "Practically Peeing" is a feature sort of like Waiting on Wednesday or On My Wishlist or Books  To Pine For where I showcase books that I realllllllly want to read. They might already be released, they might be a year away, they might be coming out next month! Either way, I can guarantee, I really want to read them.


There are so many trilogies and sagas and series in the world these days, I feel like I'm always waiting for the next frickin' book! But among all these beginnings, there are a few fabulous series coming to an end, and while it's sad to see the stories I love coming to an end, I cannot wait to see how the amazing authors conclude their characters' drama.



Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
October 23, 2012
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.


Black Heart by Holly Black
April 3, 2012
Margaret K. McElderry
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love. 



Endlessly by Kiersten White
July 24, 2012
HarperTeen
Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.

So much for normal.

With a perfect blend of humor and suspense, Endlessly is everything readers could dream of in a conclusion—and the unexpected twists will keep them guessing until the very last page. 



Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
March 13, 2012
Hyperion Books
 Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?



Taken by Storm by Jannifer Lynn Barnes
May 22, 2012
Egmont USA
Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own. 

Have you read any of these series? Are you superdy siked for any of these books!? 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

April Book of the Month!


There are a ton of books coming out in April that I am excited to read! But there is one book in particular that I have been dying to read for ages. Without further ado, my April book of the month: 


Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness. (Summary from Goodreads)

I love Kelley Armstrong's YA books. Her narrators are fun and strong and her plots are original. The Calling is the second book in the Darkness Rising series and releases April 10, 2012. 


The Selection by Kiera Cass (April 24, 2012)
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris (April 24, 2012)
Black Heart by Holly Black (April 3, 2012)


Those are my picks of the month! 
Which books are you most looking forward to this month?

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Red Glove by Holly Black (REVIEW)

Red Glove (Curse Workers #2)  by Holly Black
Genre: YA urban fantasy -- Publication date: April 5, 2011 -- Source: Library


Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose. (Goodreads.com)


*BEWARE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A LOT OF SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, WHITE CAT.


If I had to use one word to describe this book it would be delectable. Red Glove was dark, mysterious, heart-breaking, and I could not get enough of it.

The plot, of course, kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel. Like the first book in the series, you never know what's truth and what's con. We don't know Lila's real feelings, we don't know the extent to what Cassel did when Barron erased his memory. We don't know how much Barron really remembered about the Zacharov scheme. We don't know how many people actually know that Cassel is a transformation worker.

But we find out. Boy, do we find out.

As per usual, Holly Black's writing sucked me in and never let go. I'll tell ya, that woman has a magical way with words. She created a dark and gloomy mood and I felt so connected to Cassel, I almost felt like a guy. Okay, not really, but I was really connected with him. I've never felt so sympathetic for a murderer. I just wanted to give him a ginormicus hug, poor thing. His brothers lied to him and betrayed him and as much as he didn't want to be like them, he could feel that he wasn't so different after all. He had so much depth and definitely carried an emotional punch.

All of the characters, though, were truly fantastic. Lila, Sam (one of my favorites!), Daneca, even his mother. Especially his mother.

Miss Black built a mysterious fantasy that'll have you shaking right along with the characters. The world is crafted beautifully and expertly and the complicated romance will tear you in two.

The Curse Workers is a delicious series that I would definitely advise you to read!



  • The world. The world is complex, filled with lies and scams, filled with abused and dangerous magic, and filled with people that will take your breath away. I especially love how all of the real people know about the magic and how there are movements to put a stop to it.
  • The magic. Most of it is used in horrible ways. Most of it is horrible. I love the blowbacks and limitations, I love it all. If we lived in a world where this stuff existed, I would be terrified.
  • The mystery. I'm usually not a huge fan of mystery novels, but I love this one! Because the possibilities are endless. Right when you're sure who the murderer is, you're blown back and everything gets twisted and suddenly you're not so sure anymore.







If you liked...

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes


Then you'll LOVE Red Glove!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Red Glove by Holly Black
 
TEASER:
 
"I'm sorry if I'm horrible," she says, her mouth moving against my sleeve. "I'm really nervous."
 
"I thought we already established that I like it when you're horrible," I say under my breath, picking up the slushies.
 
Page 166

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Library jackpot!

So, I just got back from the library, and I am so pleased with my findings that I had to share them, because it was an incredible outcome. Thank god for modern libraries, eh?




Paranormalcy and Supernaturally by Kierstin White




Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Clarity by Kim Harrington



The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Red Glove by Holly Black


Every single one of these was on my TBR pile, and I am so glad to have snatched them :D Expect reviews for each of them sometime soon!





Sunday, July 31, 2011

White Cat by Holly Black (REVIEW)


Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
 
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.
(Goodreads.com)


-------------


MY THOUGHTS:

It took me a good 100 pages to get into this book. Now, mobster-like stories aren't exactly my thing, but after hearing so many good things about the TITHE series, I had to give this book a shot. I could tell immediately that the writing was great. It is told in the present tense with great description and detail. The plot just didn't excite me much. I pushed this book to the side several times but then I told my self, "Hey, you have to read this." So I pushed through the rough parts and was pleasantly surprised.

This book really picks up and gets exciting towards the middle. By that point all the questions you have about 'workers' are pretty much answered. This book has so many unexpected twists. Right when you think that you know what is going on, what do you know, you really don't know what is going on. There are betrayals and deceit beyond what anybody could even fathom.

This book doesn't have a tremendous amount of romance but it has just the right amount to not subtract from the action and make the romance-lovers like myself pleased.

Holly Black obviously knows how to weave clever worlds and words that are so natural they could be real. There are a lot of instances, I've discovered, where withholding information from the reader does not work when it comes to suspense, but Holly Black does an excellent job with that. I found myself munching on my nails and wondering how in the world Cassel was going to get him out of certain situations. Cassel does some things that don't seem to make sense at the time, but then are later explained and I thought, "Ahhh. Clever boy."

I ended up staying up until 3 AM finishing this gripping tale and longing for the sequel.

Reasons I liked it:


  • The Premise. Holly Black has created a world where you cannot trust anybody, really, not even yourself. A world where it is easy to doubt who you really are as a person even when you think you know yourself inside and out. A world where not even your memories are your own. A world where absolutely nothing is as it seems. 
  • The protagonist. I've always loved male protagonists because they have a darker and seemingly more realistic outlook on life. Cassel can't ever seem to keep his mouth closed even when he knows he needs to. He's clever and determined. He is a character very easy to sympathize with when you discover what he thinks he's done, what he really has done, and what he is going to do. I felt myself aching for the boy every step of the way.
  • The cons. They were clever, necessary, and amusing.
  • The twists. Need I say more?

My Rating: